Every time the month of October comes around, pastors feel happy because this month is special—it has been declared as Pastor Appreciation Month.
To show their gratitude for everything pastors do for their church, both men and women make sure to greet them, thank them, and some even go the extra mile to create special cards with heartfelt messages of appreciation.

Although this event is more popular in cities, the people of Iba, Zambales, are not left behind. Even though most residents there are Roman Catholics, over the past decades, various missionaries and religious groups have come to the province to spread the Word of God. Today, it is home to a mix of different faiths.

Among the many choices, the Iginayas family chose to become born-again Christians. Ever since discovering their newfound faith, the family has been regularly attending church every Sunday. It was there that they met Pastor Ernesto Dando Kayabyab, who was described as kind, friendly, and someone you could easily approach whenever life became difficult.

Because of his good record and rapport with the community, Ernesto served as their pastor for two decades. Over the years, people came to trust him deeply. Unlike other pastors who had controversies, Ernesto maintained a clean image. But everything would change when he met 18-year-old Sheila Iginayas.

Having served as pastor for a long time, Ernesto had seen Sheila grow up. But when Sheila became a young woman, she began to attract his attention in a different way. After graduating from high school, Sheila couldn’t attend college due to their financial situation. Wanting to help her parents, she started looking for a job.

However, many employers had strict requirements, and Sheila faced multiple rejections. So, she was thankful when she was hired as a sales assistant at a bakery. While her classmates went off to college chasing their dreams, Sheila was content with her simple life as a vendor.

Even though the job wasn’t ideal, her parents were still happy that she was working instead of idling at home. During her few months at the bakery, Pastor Ernesto became a regular customer—not because he loved bread, but because he was determined to get to know Sheila better.

He frequently bought bread, but more than that, he made sure to engage her in conversation. Eventually, his consistent visits paid off. Despite the significant age gap, Sheila gradually became open to the idea that perhaps something special could develop between them.

She even gave her phone number to Ernesto, and their communication became frequent. She was also seen at church more often, increasing her attendance from once a week to two or three times. She became active in church ministry, which brought her even closer to Ernesto.

A few months after they began talking, Sheila became Ernesto’s girlfriend. Once they made their relationship official, Ernesto made a point to respectfully inform her parents. In 2012, he set up a meeting and courteously explained his good intentions toward their daughter, assuring them they had nothing to worry about because he was a pastor.

At first, Sheila’s parents were shocked, since Ernesto was old enough to be her father. But they couldn’t object—first, because Sheila loved him deeply, and second, because she was no longer a minor. When Sheila insisted she was sure of her feelings, her parents reluctantly accepted the relationship.

Their relationship became a hot topic in their village. Some people raised eyebrows, saying they looked more like father and daughter. But over time, people got used to seeing them together. Though gossip never really stopped, Sheila’s parents learned to ignore it. Over time, they came to see how kind Ernesto was—not just to Sheila, but to them as well.

Whenever Ernesto visited their home, he always brought food, fruits, or other goods. Sheila never once mentioned being abused or mistreated. When the couple’s first anniversary arrived, they visited Sheila’s parents—but instead of a celebration, they delivered shocking news: Sheila was pregnant.

Word spread fast. People in the village couldn’t stop talking. Churchgoers, especially those familiar with the Bible, began to question whether Ernesto was truly a man of God. After all, the Bible clearly states that sex outside marriage is a sin. For many, this meant that their pastor had committed sexual immorality.

Others pitied Sheila, thinking Ernesto, who was much older, had only wanted a child with a younger woman. But as always, even when the Iginayas family became the subject of gossip, they had no choice but to accept the situation. Like many parents, they supported Sheila through her pregnancy, and eventually, she gave birth to a baby boy.

The relationship grew stronger. In photos, you could see that even though they weren’t wealthy, the couple seemed content with their life with their new baby. But their peace was shattered when news broke that Sheila was dead.

Once again, the Iginayas family became the center of public attention—this time, because the person who killed Sheila was none other than Ernesto, the man and pastor she had loved for years. Because the crime involved a pastor and his much younger partner, the news quickly spread across Zambales.

Due to overwhelming evidence and witness testimonies, Judge Santiago Beltran of RTC Branch 69 in Iba, Zambales, swiftly issued an arrest warrant on December 11, 2019. The Iginayas family remained silent as the investigation continued.

Authorities struggled to capture Ernesto, who quickly went into hiding. By the end of 2019, Sheila’s mother was devastated, stating that they would never find peace until Ernesto was caught and justice was served.

To help track him down, the authorities released Ernesto’s face to the public. Zambales Provincial Director Police Colonel Ponce Rogelio Poñones announced that Ernesto was now considered the #1 most wanted person in their area. This move proved effective—by March 2020, just months after Sheila’s murder, authorities happily reported Ernesto’s arrest.

The report stated that 62-year-old Ernesto was arrested in Purok Uno, Barangay Sabang, Vinzons, Camarines Norte—about an hour away from the Iginayas family home. Once processed, he was transported back to Zambales and detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) while awaiting trial.

Weeks after the arrest, Sheila’s family—who had initially refused interviews—finally spoke out. Not for attention, but to warn other women about men like Ernesto. Sheila’s mother Helen recalled how shocked their family was when they learned of her relationship with Ernesto.

At first, they strongly opposed it, but Sheila insisted, so they supported her. When Sheila gave birth, Helen noticed her daughter had matured. She began to notice the differences between her and Ernesto—especially their personalities and age gap. Though she stayed in the relationship, Ernesto sensed the shift and tried harder to provide for Sheila and their child.

One day, however, a woman suddenly showed up at their house—claiming to be Ernesto’s legal wife, with documents to prove it. The Iginayas family finally understood why Ernesto never married Sheila. But despite this bombshell, Sheila chose to stay with him.

Later, Sheila started working again. As she interacted with people her own age, she realized she wanted more—to become a legal wife and have a proper wedding. Ernesto had no intention or financial capacity for that, and Sheila began pulling away. Despite repeated breakup attempts, Ernesto dismissed them as emotional outbursts.

Eventually, Sheila sought her mother’s help. After a serious talk, Ernesto finally accepted the breakup. Sheila then met Ronnie Elorde, who had everything she wanted in a man. Their relationship progressed quickly, and within months, Ronnie asked for her hand in marriage. Both families began preparing for the wedding.

While surrounded by love and support, one man seethed with jealousy—Ernesto. Despite their past, Sheila allowed Ernesto to see their son. But for Ernesto, that wasn’t enough—he still wanted Sheila back.

On October 19, 2019, a hot day in Iba, Zambales, the Iginayas family gathered in a hut outside their home. Ernesto arrived on a motorcycle. Their son ran up to greet him, and Ernesto lifted the child into his arms. Sheila and Ronnie prepared to leave on their motorbike, but Ernesto, annoyed, made a sarcastic comment.

Before anyone could respond, Ernesto pulled out a gun and shot Sheila twice, hitting her in the leg and chest. He then shot Ronnie twice—in the hand and stomach. After the shooting, Ernesto fled on his motorbike, taking the crying child with him. Though rushed to the hospital, both Sheila and Ronnie were declared dead on arrival.

Investigators believed Ernesto committed the crime in a fit of rage and hopelessness, thinking no other woman would love a 62-year-old man without money or stability. As one relative said:

“We never imagined he could do something like that. He was a pastor—we trusted him.”

With strong evidence, Ernesto now faces the possibility of life imprisonment.